Animal feeder assembly

ABSTRACT

An animal feeder assembly provides food and water at an elevated position from a support surface and is therefore particularly suited for feeding large dogs in a manner which avoids digestive and posture problems associated with feeding such animals from containers positioned at the level of the support surface. The feeder assembly comprises a feeder tray and a plurality of hollow legs releasably attached to the feeder tray. Each of the hollow legs are capable of holding ballast material such as sand or water for lowering the center of gravity of the assembly relative to the support surface, thereby enhancing the stability of the assembly and inhibiting the animal form transporting the feeder assembly from the preferred feeding location. The tray and legs are preferably made of blow molded plastic and the tray is formed to include a closed interior cavity, each of which facilitates cleaning the assembly. Each leg is releasably attached to the tray and may be releasably locked to a receptacle formed in a bottom surface of the tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to animal feeder assemblies and,more particularly, to a feeder assembly which is particularly suitablefor feeding large dogs.

2. Related Art

It is well known by veterinarians experienced in the care and treatmentof large dogs such as those of the mastiff breed that the health of suchdogs may be adversely affected if such dogs are fed from a containerpositioned at floor level. Specifically, a large dog may have digestiveproblems and/or back misalignment problems due to being fed from aground level container.

A number of elevated animal feeding devices are known which are providedfor the purpose of improving the posture and digestion of animals suchas large dogs, but are typically subject to one or more of the followingproblems: the inclusion of a large number of parts requiring arelatively complex assembly and relatively highly manufacturing cost;relatively large size and weight, making transportation difficult; theymay be difficult to clean due to small open cavities, irregular shapesand sharp corners; and they may include parts which are subject tooxidation.

In view of the foregoing deficiencies associated with known animalfeeder devices, applicant's invention is presented herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an animal feeder assembly forproviding food and water at an elevated position from a support surfacefor animals, and in particular large dogs. In a preferred embodiment,the animal feeder assembly comprises a feeder tray and a plurality ofhollow legs releasably attached to the tray. Each of the hollow legs arecapable of holding ballast material for lowering the center of gravityof the assembly relative to the support surface, thereby enhancing thestability of the assembly.

In other preferred embodiments, the animal feeder assembly may includethe following structural features and functions. At least one, oralternatively all, of the hollow legs are partially filled with ballastmaterial which may be either sand, water or other suitable materials.The feeder tray and legs may be made of blow molded plastic, and thefeeder tray includes a substantially flat top surface and means formedtherein for receiving feeding containers. The receiving means maycomprise a plurality of generally concave-shaped depressions and aplurality of raised ridges, with each of the depressions being partiallycircumvented by a pair of the raised ridges which are each partiallyannular in shape. First and second ones of each of the pair of ridgesare each circumferentially spaced so as to form a pair of opposed spacespositioned between the first and second ridges, with each of the opposedspaces being effective for providing hand access for removing a foodcontainer disposed in a corresponding one of the depressions.Alternatively, the receiving means may comprise a plurality of aperturesformed in the top surface of the tray.

The feeder tray further comprises a bottom surface having a plurality ofreceptacles formed therein, with each of the receptacles receiving oneof the hollow legs. Each of the legs includes a first, tray-engagingportion which is releasably attached to one of the receptacles andincludes an aperture formed therein. Each of the legs further includes asecond portion which is connected to the tray-engaging portion andincludes an interior cavity which communicates with the aperture formedin the tray-engaging portion. Each interior cavity is effective forreceiving and containing ballast material which may be deposited throughthe corresponding aperture into the cavity prior to the tray-engagingportion being attached to the corresponding receptacle. The assembly mayfurther comprise means for releasably locking each of the legs withincorresponding ones of the receptacles. The locking means may comprise aplurality of protuberances formed within each of the receptacles and aplurality of recesses formed in the tray-engaging portion of each of thelegs, wherein each of the recess engages one of the protuberances.Alternatively, each leg may include a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced and longitudinally extending protuberances which engage an innersurface of a corresponding one of the apertures in an interference fitso as to releasably retain each leg within the corresponding aperture.In the preferred embodiments the legs and corresponding apertures mayeither have a generally L-shaped, or circular, cross-section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structural features and functions of the present invention, as wellas the advantages derived therefrom, will become more apparent from thefollowing detail description of the preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view illustrating the animal feeder assemblyof the present invention according to a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view further illustrating the animal feeder assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view, partially in section and partially incutaway view, taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 2, further illustrating theanimal feeder assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3, with thecorresponding assembly leg removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view further illustrating one of the assemblylegs of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a top end view of the leg illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom end view of the leg illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the animal feeder assembly of thepresent invention according to an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view, partially in section and partially incutaway view, taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 8, further illustrating theanimal feeder assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view further illustrating one of the legs of theanimal feeder assembly illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a top end view of the leg illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a bottom end view of the leg illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating the animal feeder assembly of thepresent invention according to another alternative embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view further illustrating the animal feederassembly of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 15A-15C are perspective views illustrating other alternativeembodiments of the animal feeder assembly of the present invention, withthe assembly legs not shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate an animal feederassembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Feeder assembly 10 comprises a feeder tray 12 and a pluralityof hollow legs 14 which are releasably attached to tray 12. Each of thehollow legs 14 are capable of holding ballast material 16 for thepurpose of lowering the center of gravity of assembly 10 relative to asupport surface 18, which may comprise a floor for instance in aresidence. Lowering the center of gravity reduces the chances thatassembly 10 will be tipped over by the animal during feeding.Additionally, the use of ballast 16 makes it :more difficult for theanimal to relocate assembly 10 from the preferred feeding location. In apreferred embodiment at least one, and most preferably all, of legs 14are at least partially filled with ballast material 16 which maycomprise a liquid such as water. Alternatively, a solid ballast material16' such as sand may be used. Additionally, ballast material 16 and 16'may comprise other suitable non-toxic, non-corrosive weightingmaterials, particularly those which are commonly available. Forinstance, ballast 16' may also comprise rocks or metallic spheres suchas BB's or ball bearings. Each leg 14 includes a tray-engaging portion20 which includes an aperture 22 (shown in FIG. 6) which extends throughan outer surface 24 of tray-engaging portion 20 accessing a cavity 56 inleg 14 and is therefore effective for receiving ballast material 16prior to leg 14 being attached to tray 12 as subsequently described.

In a preferred embodiment, tray 12 and legs 14 are made of a plasticmaterial, and most preferably, tray 12 and legs 14 is made of a highdensity polyethylene. The plastic material of tray 12 and legs 14 ispreferably formed by a blow molded process, wherein any conventionalblow molding process may be used. Alternatively, tray 12 and legs 14 maybe formed by injection molding but this process may result in anincrease in required material and the associated increase in assemblyweight.

Feeder tray 12 includes a substantially flat top surface 26 and furtherincludes a plurality of generally concave-shaped depressions 28 formedin top surface 26. Preferably each depression 28 includes a generallytoroidally shaped portion 30 and a substantially flat portion 32 havinga generally circular shape. Portions 30 and 32 are attached to oneanother and form a continuous, generally smooth surface of depression28. Each depression 28 is at least partially circumvented by a pair ofraised ridges 34 formed in top surface 26. Ridges 34 are partiallyannular in shape and are attached on one side to portion 30 ofconcave-shaped depression 28. The use of a plastic material, comprisinghigh density polyethylene which is formed by a blow molded process in apreferred embodiment, provides generally smooth surfaces throughout tray12 and smooth transitions among the various features of tray 12,including top surface 26, depressions 28 and ridges 34. Each pair ofridges 34 and a corresponding depression 28 combine to form a means forreceiving a feeding container. This is all illustrated with respect tothe depression 28 and corresponding ridges 34 shown on the left handside of FIGS. 1 and 2, where the ridges 34 support the rim 36 of afeeding container, indicated generally at 38, and depression 28 supportsa bowl portion 40 of container 38. It should be understood thatalternatively, either food or water may be deposited directly within,and retained by, depressions 28. The individual ones of each pair ofridges 34, which partially circumvent a corresponding depression 28, arecircumferentially spaced from one another so as to form a pair ofopposed spaces 42 which are effective for providing hand access forremoving a food container disposed in the corresponding one ofdepressions 28, such as container 38.

Feeder tray 12 further includes a bottom surface 44, and a plurality ofreceptacles 46 formed in bottom surface 44, with each of the receptacles46 receiving one of the hollow legs 14. The tray-engaging portion 20 ofeach leg, best shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, is releasably attached to andreleasably locked within the corresponding one of receptacles 46. Aplurality of spaced apart recesses 48 are formed in the tray-engagingportion 20 of each leg 14. Each recess 48 engages a correspondingprotuberance 50 which is formed on the inner surface of receptacle 46,as best seen in FIG. 4. Each leg 14 is releasably attached to tray 12,by inserting tray-engaging portion 20 into a corresponding one ofreceptacles 46, with protuberances 50 being snapped into place withincorresponding ones of recesses 48 so as to releasably lock portion 20within the corresponding receptacle 46. It should be understood thatalthough a pair of recesses 48, formed in portion 20 of each leg 14, anda corresponding pair of protuberances 50, formed in each receptacle 46,are illustrated in the exemplary, preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-7,other numbers of recesses and protuberances, as well as other forms oflocking means, are considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention for the purpose of releasably locking portion 20 of leg 14within receptacle 46. For instance, the male portions of the lockingmeans such as protuberances 50 may be formed in portion 20 of each leg14 with the corresponding female portions, such as recesses 48, formedin receptacle 46.

Each leg 14 further includes a portion 52 which has an inner or bottomsurface 54 which may be placed in contacting engagement with a supportsurface, such as surface 18. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7,tray-engaging portion 20 and portion 52 each include an irregular,generally L-shaped cross-section, with the shapes of portions 20 and 52being complementary to one another and the shape of portion 20 beingcomplementary to the generally L-shaped cross-section of receptacle 46.Portion 52 includes an interior cavity 56 for receiving and containingballast material 16 and cavity 56 also includes an irregular, L-shapedcross-section which is complementary to the shape of portion 52. Cavity56 communicates with, or is accessed by, aperture 22 in portion 20.Accordingly, for each leg 14, ballast 16 may be deposited throughaperture 22 into cavity 56 prior to tray-engaging portion 20 beinginserted into receptacle 46. In a preferred embodiment, each leg 14further includes a plug 27, in the general shape of a top hat, which maybe inserted in aperture 22 after ballast 16 has been deposited intocavity 56. Plug 25 has a body portion 27 which engages aperture 22 and arim portion 29 which contacts the outer surface 24 of tray-engagingportion 20 of leg 14. Body portion 27 may have a slight taper, forinstance of 8-12 degrees, with the largest diameter end of body portion27 attached to rim 29. It should be understood that plugs 25 may beomitted without adversely affecting the function of assembly 10.Portions 20 and 52 of leg 14 are shaped as shown for purposes of weightreduction relative to other potential shapes of hollow legs, such asthose illustrated in the alternative embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in FIGS. 8-11. However, it should be understood that weightreduced shapes other than those illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be usedto construct legs 14. Additionally, although the shape of receptacle 46and tray-engaging portion 20 must be complementary to one another,portion 52 of leg 14 may have a different shape than portion 20 ifdesired which may enhance the stability of assembly 10. It should befurther understood that although tray 12 has been illustrated asincluding two concave-shaped depressions 28 and two corresponding pairsof raised ridges 34, which are effective for receiving two feedingcontainers, tray 12 may include other shapes or numbers of depressions28 and the corresponding pairs of ridges 34 within the scope of thepresent invention.

Feeder tray 12 further includes a boundary ridge 58 and an edge surface60 which combine to form the perimeter of tray 12. Edge surface 60 isintegral with ridge 58, which is formed in top surface 26 of tray 12.Surface 60 is also integral with bottom surface 44 of tray 12. Topsurface 26, bottom surface 44 and edge surface 60 are interconnectedwith one another so as to form a closed interior cavity 62 within tray12. The closed nature of tray 12 and the included interior cavity 62constitute an important feature of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention since this facilitates cleaning of tray 12 as comparedto a feeder tray which may include a number of cavities which are sizedand shaped so as to trap food and are therefore difficult to clean. Thecleaning of tray 12 of the present invention is further facilitated bythe use of plastic material which is blow molded into the previouslydiscussed shape, including generously radiused fillets between variousfeatures such as fillet 59 interconnecting boundary ridge 58 and topsurface 26. Portions of tray 12, such as boundary ridge 58 and edgesurface 60 may be textured per specification M.T. 11100 or theequivalent to produce a wrinkle surface finish to enhance the appearanceof tray 12. The depth of the surface texturing may be in a range of0.006-0.010 inches, and most preferably is approximately 0.008 inches.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-12, an animal feeder assembly 110 isillustrated according to an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, structural features which are similar toor the same as features of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 areindicated with reference numerals which are 100 greater than thereference numerals of the corresponding element in FIGS. 1-7. As withassembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1-7, assembly 110 includes a feeder tray 112and a plurality of hollow legs 114 which are releasably attached to tray112. Assembly 110 differs from assembly 10 with regard to the shape oflegs 114, as compared to the shape of legs 14, and with respect to thecorresponding shape of receptacles 146 which are formed in bottomsurface 144 of tray 112, as compared to the shape of receptacles 46 oftray 12. Additionally, the manner of attaching legs 114 to receptacles146 of tray 112 differs from the releasable locking engagement of legs14 within receptacles 46, as subsequently discussed. However, otherfeatures of assembly 110 are the same as those of assembly 10. Forinstance, tray 112 includes a substantially flat top surface 126 and aplurality of concave-shaped depressions 128 formed in surface 126, aswell as a plurality of raised ridges 134 formed in surface 126, with apair of ridges 134 partially circumventing each of depressions 128. Aswith assembly 10, each depression 128 and a corresponding pair of ridges134 of assembly 110 are effective for receiving a feeding container,such as container 38. Also, as with assembly 10, depressions 128 ofassembly 110 may be effective in receiving food or water directly,without the use of a container such as container 38.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each receptacle 146 has a generally circularcross-section 166 and is open at a bottom end 168 for receiving one oflegs 114. Each leg 114 includes a tray-engaging portion 120 having agenerally cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 10-12, and including aplurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extendingprotuberances 170 which are formed in an otherwise circular outersurface 172 of portion 120. Protuberances 170 are sized, and positionedradially from a centerline axis 174 of leg 114 so that the outermostpoints 176 of each protuberance 170 may be interconnected by a circlehaving a diameter 178. Diameter 178 is slightly larger than an insidediameter 180 of apertures 146. Consequently, tray-engaging portion 120of each leg 114 engages a corresponding one of receptacles 146 in aninterference fit, so as to releasably attach each leg 114 to one of thereceptacles 146 of tray 112. Legs 114 further include a second,generally cylindrical portion 182 which is connected to tray-engagingportion 120 via an intermediate annular shoulder portion 184. Portion182 includes an outside diameter 186 which is greater than diameter 178of tray-engaging portion 120. Portion 182 further includes an innersurface 154 which is operable for contacting a support surface such assurface 18. Additionally, portion 182 includes a generally cylindricallyshaped interior cavity 156 for containing ballast material 16.Tray-engaging portion 120 includes an aperture 122 formed in andextending through an outer surface 124 of portion 120 which is effectivefor receiving ballast material 16 prior to portion 120 being insertedinto receptacle 146. Similar to legs 14, each leg 114 may furtherinclude a plug 125 having a body portion 127 engaging aperture 122 and arim portion 129 contacting outer surface 124, with plug 125 beinginserted in aperture 122 after ballast material 16 has been deposited incavity 156.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, an animal feeder assembly 210 isillustrated according to another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. Assembly 210 includes a feeder tray 212 and a plurality ofhollow legs 114 which are releasably attached to tray 212. Tray 212 isidentical to tray 112 of assembly 110 with the exception that thegenerally concave-shaped depressions 28 of tray 112 are replaced with acorresponding plurality of apertures 288 which are formed in top surface226 of tray 212. Each aperture 288 combines with a pair of correspondingridges 234, which partially circumvent the corresponding aperture 288,to provide a means for receiving a feeding container such as container38, illustrated with respect to the aperture 288 and ridges 234 shown onthe left hand side of FIGS. 13 and 14. However, unlike theconcave-shaped depressions 28, 128 of previous embodiments, apertures288 are not effective for the direct containment of food or water.Additionally, due to the inclusion of apertures 288, tray 212 does notinclude a closed interior cavity thereby making the cleaning of tray 212more difficult than the cleaning of trays 12 and 112.

FIGS. 15A-15C illustrate alternative embodiments of the feeder trays ofthe present invention, indicated at 312, 412 and 512, respectively. Asshown in FIG. 15A, the perimeter of tray 312 is generally triangularsuch that tray 312 is generally pie-shaped. Additionally, tray 312includes three concave-shaped depressions 328. As shown in FIG. 15B,tray 412 has a generally circular perimeter such that tray 412 isgenerally disk-shaped and further, tray 412 includes a single depression428 for the purpose of receiving a feeding container. As shown in FIG.15C, the perimeter of tray 512 is irregular such that tray 512 is formedgenerally in the shape of a dog bone. Further, as shown in FIG. 15C,tray 512 includes a pair of depressions 528 for the purpose of receivingfeeding containers. Trays 312, 412 and 512 are illustrated as includinggenerally circular apertures 346, 446 and 546, respectively, which arethe same as apertures 146 and 246 illustrated in trays 112 and 212,respectively, for purposes of receiving legs 114. However, trays 312,412 and 512 may alternatively include irregularly shaped apertures whichare effective for receiving hollow legs of a complementary shape, suchas those of legs 14 illustrated in FIGS. 5-7.

While the foregoing description has set forth the preferred embodimentsin particular detail, it must be understood that numerous modifications,substitutions and changes can be undertaken without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the ensuingclaims. Accordingly, the invention is therefore not limited to thespecific preferred embodiments as described but is only limited asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An animal feeder assembly for providing food andwater at an elevated position from a support surface, said assemblycomprising:a feeder tray comprising a substantially flat top surfacehaving a periphery and including at least one generally concave-shapeddepression in said top surface positioned interior of said periphery forreceiving a feeding container; at least one raised ridge formed in saidtop surface and substantially circumventing said at least oneconcave-shaped depression to thereby form a hand access space tofacilitate the removal of a food container from said at least oneconcave-shaped depression; and a plurality of spaced apart legsreleasably attached to said feeder tray about its periphery, each ofsaid legs having an interior cavity for receiving removable ballastmaterial for selectively adjusting the weight and the center of gravityof said assembly relative to the support surface, thereby enhancing thestability of said assembly.
 2. The animal feeder assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein at least one of said legs is L shaped providingincreased stability to said animal feeder assembly.
 3. The animal feederassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said legs is at leastpartially filled with said ballast material.
 4. The animal feederassembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said ballast material isselected from the group consisting of sand, water, rocks and metallicspheres.
 5. The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid feeder tray is made of molded plastic.
 6. The animal feederassembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said legs are made of moldedplastic.
 7. The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 6, whereinsaid feeder tray and said legs are made of blow-molded plastic.
 8. Theanimal feeder assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:said at least oneraised ridge is provided by first and second partially annular raisedridges circumferentially spaced relative to said at least one generallyconcave-shaped depression so as to form a pair of opposed spacespositioned between said first and second ridges, each of said pair ofopposed spaces being effective for providing hand access for removing afood container disposed in a corresponding one of said at least oneconcave-shaped depressions.
 9. The animal feeder assembly as recited inclaim 1, wherein said feeder tray further includes a bottom surface anda plurality of receptacles formed in said bottom surface, each of saidreceptacles receiving one of said legs.
 10. The animal feeder assemblyas recited in claim 9, wherein each of said legs includes a first,tray-engaging portion which is releasably attached to a correspondingone of said receptacles, each of said tray-engaging portions of saidlegs having an aperture formed therein, wherein said ballast materialmay be deposited through said aperture into a corresponding one of saidlegs prior to said tray-engaging portion being inserted into saidreceptacle.
 11. The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 10,further comprising means for releasably locking each of said legs withincorresponding ones of said receptacles, said locking means comprising aplurality of protuberances formed within each of said receptacles. 12.The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said lockingmeans further comprises a plurality of recesses formed in saidtray-engaging portion of each of said legs, each of said recessesengaging one of said protuberances.
 13. The animal feeder assembly asrecited in claim 12, wherein:each of said legs includes a second portionconnected to said first, tray-engaging portion; said second portionincludes an inner surface operable for contacting the support surfaceand an interior cavity which communicates with said aperture and iseffective for receiving and containing said ballast material; said firstportion and said receptacle have a generally L-shaped cross-section. 14.The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein:each of saidreceptacles has a generally circular cross-section having a firstdiameter and is open at a bottom end for receiving one of said legs;each of said tray-engaging portions is generally cylindrically shapedand includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinallyextending protuberances formed in an otherwise circular outer surface;said protuberances are formed so that the radially outermost points oneach of said protuberances may be interconnected by a circle having asecond diameter; said second diameter is greater than said firstdiameter so that said tray-engaging portion of each of said legs engagesa corresponding one of said receptacles in an interference fit.
 15. Theanimal feeder assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein:each of said legshas a second, generally cylindrical portion connected to saidtray-engaging portion via an intermediate, annular shoulder portion;said second cylindrical portion includes a third diameter which isgreater than said second diameter, an inner surface operable forcontacting the support surface, and an interior cavity whichcommunicates with said aperture and is effective for receiving andcontaining said ballast material.
 16. The animal feeder assembly asrecited in claim 10, wherein said feeder tray further includes aperimeter-forming edge surface, wherein said top, bottom and edgesurfaces are interconnected with one another so as to form a closedinterior cavity.
 17. The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 1,wherein:said feeder tray includes a plurality of receptacles forreceiving said legs; said assembly further comprises means forreleasably locking each of said legs within corresponding ones of saidreceptacles.
 18. The animal feeder assembly as recited in claim 1,wherein said interior cavity of at least one said leg is releasablysealable.